Capsule-machine



(No Model.)

A. WOOD.

CAPSULE MACHINE. No. 258,519. Patented May 23,1882.

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' Uwrrao STATES ATENT Fries.

ALFRED WOOD, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

CAPSULE-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 258,519, dated May 23, 1882.

Application filed March 13, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED W001), of the city of Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Gapsnle-lVIaehines, of which the following is a specification.

Figure l is a side elevation ofmy invention. Fig.2is a sectional view of thecuttingmechanism. Fig. 3 is a side view of the mechanism for separating the cut capsule from the useless Fig.4 isa section through the funnel which receives the capsules. Fig. 5 is a top view of the cutting mechanism. Fig. 6 is an enlarged side elevationof the stripping mechanism. Fig. 7 is a section on line y y, Fig. 1.

My invention consists, first, in a capsule-machine consisting of an endless chain composed of plates carrying pins or molds; second, in retating a number of capsule pins or molds by suitable friction-gear while said pins are passing between suitable cutters; third, in placing a series of spring-cutters in such relation to an endless chain composed of plates carrying capsule pins or molds that the motion ot'said chain will cause such pins to successively pass between such spring-cutters; fourth, in an inclined stripper so placed as to grasp successively a number of pins or molds carried on an endless chain and remove therefrom the capsules formed on said pins or molds.

0 is the frame of the machine.

L L are shafts journaled in hearings in frame 0 and carrying sprocket-wheels N N, having shoulders 19 at the ends of the spokes thereof.

D D are metal plates, in each of which are set a number of rows of pins, I, so fitted that they can berevolvedin said plates, but are pre vented from lateral vibration. 0n the upper side of said plates, Fig. 2, pins I have a shoulder too large to pass through the plate, and on the under side of the plate a small wheel or pulley, B, is fastened to each pin.

K K are links, pivoted to plates D and connecting said plates together.

0 is an upward projection of frame 0.

Z represents a groove on the inner surface of frame 0, and plates D D fit the groove, so that by it they are held firmly while being drawn along by wheels N N.

G, Fig. 7, represents aframe 0Kl ndin g across the top of O.

(No model.)

O 0 represent metal cutters supported on frame G,'and pressed toward each other by small spiral springs on at. There are as many pairs of these cutters as there are longitudinal rows of pins on plates D, and they are so placed that as plates D are drawn through groove Z in frame 0 the first pin in each row will enter between the curved points of cutters O C, Fig. 5, spread the cutters the diameter of said pin, and all the other pins in said row will follow between said cutters. At the end of cutters (J O the cutting-edge is inclined toward plate D, Fig. 3.

O is a frame extending across 0, under the plates D, and hung in bearings, so that it can be .reciproeated. Fastened to frame 0 are small cylinders T, in which are set small spiral springs, which press a piston, carrying on its end a frictionrail, Q, against the wheels B on each row of pins I. ltail Q is made long enough to operate simultaneously on as many pins as are being acted upon by the straight edge of cutters O O, and there is one rail Q for each longitudinal row of pins on plate D. Rail Q is made of a straight strip of wood or metal, preferabl y faced with rubber.

T is a pulley driven from any suitable source of power, which operates a eranlc connected with frame 0 by red E, so that when said pulley is rotated frame 0 will be reciprocated in a horizontal plane.

E F are two pieces of metal, having straight upper edges and inclined lower edges, which are fastened and pressed against pins I in pre cisely the same manner as are cutters O 0, being placed, however, below the shaft L L in the position shown in Fig. 1.

R represents a gelatine capsule, andVrepresents a portion of gelatine coating on pin I above capsule R.

NV is a bath for containing the preparation from which the capsules are made. It may be set at such a height that pins 1 will travel through it; or it may be raised to meet the pins in each plate D as said plates successively come over said bath W.

M is a funnel, into which capsules R drop when removed from pins I.

Shafts L L are driven inunison by any suitable power, and their motion may be continuous or intermittent.

The operation of my invention is as follows:

As each plate D comes to its lowest position over bath W, Fig. 1, pins I on said plate are dipped into the material contained in said bath and become coated with said material. The motion of shafts L L and wheels N N carries plate D to the left, Fig. I, over wheel N, and when plate D reaches frame 0 it runs into grooves Z in said frame. Each row of pins on said plate runs between cutters O O, and at the same time wheel B on each pin comes in contact with one of the friction-rails Q, which is being constantly reciprocated, so that each pin is rotated as long as it is between the straight edges of the cutters, and the coating of gelatine or other material from which the capsules are made is severed. The point at which the cutting shall take place is regulated by changing the distance of the cutters from the plates D, so that the capsule may be of any desired length. As each pin passes beyond the influence of rail Q it meets the inclined edge 8 of the cutters, and the portion of material V which has been cut from capsule It is pushed by the inclined edge S toward plate D. Plate D is then carried around wheel N, and as it leaves said wheel runs into a groove in a frame similar to frame 0, and the pins on said plate successively run between the strippers E, which are pressed against said pins precisely as are cutters O O, and by the lower inclined edges thereof the capsules R are stripped from pins I and fall into funnel M, by which they are conducted into a suitable receptacle. Strippers F, which are connected to strippers E, strike pins I above the refuse coatingV, remove said coating from pins I, and leave said pins ready to be again dipped in bath W. Plates D then pass over friction-rollers A A, and again go through the process above described, thus causing the process of making capsules to go on continuously and automatically.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Ina capsule-machine, an endless chain of plates carrying suitable pins or molds for formin g the capsules, as herein shown anddescribed.

2. In a capsule-machine, the combination of a plate carryingsuitable pins or molds for formin g capsules, one or more friction-rolls engaging with and rotating said pins, and one or more pairs of spring-cutters adapted to bear upon said pins while rotating, as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of the plates D,carrying pins I, and the spring-cutters C 0, having straight edges for a portion of their length, and the inclined edge S, as and forlhepurposecet forth.

4. In a capsule-machine, the combination of the plate D and pins I, carried thereby, with devices for rotating the pins, substantially as and for the purposes described.

5. In a capsule-machine, the combiuationof the plate D, pins I, havingthereon wheel or pulley B, and friction-rail Q, substantially as herein'shown and described.

6. In a capsule-machine, thecombination-ot' the endless belt of plates D, the pins I, arranged to freely rotate in said plates, andthe stripper E, having aninclined edge arranged to force the capsules from the pins, substantially as and for the purpose-described.

A L FRED WOOD.

Witnesses:

SANDS F. Moons, J N0. A. WEIR. 

